The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-04-28

convenient, but preferred IN the order
mentioned. Always keep good sup.
ply on hand, and never get too busy
to replenish when out, or nearly so.
On this depends great deal The
animals bed should be made daily, if
required. Keep the fork and litter
convenient and this trouble is small.
Once get in the way Of it and it seems
light No more than watering the
animal The stalls should be cleaned
out thoroughly once in two or three
months, and the manure thrown under
shelter until wanted for use. The
manure should be properly mixed with
rich soil, to prevent burning. The
hogs should have their pen in which
to be fed, and it should be kept lit
tered When fattening,, put them in
foored pens and don't forget to litter.
During bad weather in winter, all the
hogs should be confined to their pen,
and good shelter provided.
| have not said anything about the
breeds of stock best to keep, as this
does not bear on the question.
9Th. Would say that when it is the
aim of the farmer to bring his land to
high state of cultivation, it is ad-
visable to remove the stumps, stones
etc. This can be done few at time
when it is convenient. 1t costs too
much to undertake the whole farm at
once-a few each year and they are
all gone.
9Th. Draining also is a very import
ant item. The soil is a good absorb
ent, but when full it cannot absorb any
more. Cut deep bitches, not too far
apart and put in tile, stone or poles
and fill up. Always have leading
drain with numerous others emptying
into it. After these drains are prop
erly made, the ground should be deeply
plough&0 ret top deep at first, but
gradually deeper each year until the
desired depth is reached. Land we'll
drained and pulverized, absorbs the
rains as they fall, and appropriates the
salts and gases in solution in them, as
they pass down through the soil into
the under drains. The water comes
down richly charged with ammonia,
carbonic acid, and other fertilizing
principles, and passes out the drains
poor in these elements.
Then another benefit is derived
from under drains besides the saving
of gullies and room for hillside bitches.
If the rains are suffered to run off
from the surface of the soil, they al
ways carry more or less of the soil with
them. The part thus carried off is
always the most fertile part. The
salts present in the soil also pass off in
solution in this way. So we see by
properly draining our land we not only
save the soil and the fertilizing ele-
ments it contains, but take from the
air much of those it contains, they be-
ing absorbed by the rains in passing
down, and left in the soil in passing
through. Besides, there are many
elements in the soil that cannot be ap-
propriated until acted upon by the
oxygen of the air-they must be oxid
lied. When the soil is such that will
admit the water down through it
freely, the air follows, filing up the
pores occupied by the water, and thus
accomplishes this grand object
The best of agricultural chemists
say it will pay to drain land.
CEDAR GROVE CLUB-FoRsYTH COUNTY.
This enterprising club was organized
on the 18th Of April, 1886. 1t has
now past the first mile post in its ex-
vigorous, healthy and hope
full. It held lively meeting on its
day in which general
review was made Of it's operations, 1t
held lS meetings during the year at
all of which it's faithful president pre-
sided, except one. It began with "a
members and it now numbers 81 vot-
ing and % honorary members. A
general summing up of its, work, and
of the evidences of improvement
among it's members, and of the bust
ness transactions of the club, makes
and gratifying exhibit. 1t
is one of the most progressive clubs
IN the State and we confidently expect
10 hear of more and hetter work as it
grows in age and numbers, for it is
made of the right kind of material
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